Terminal cleaning device



April 7, 1970 J. SPITERI TERMINAL CLEANING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1967 INVENTOR. JOSEPH SP1 75R! CM {Mg United States Patent 3,504,459 TERIXHNAL CLEANING DEVICE Joseph Spiteri, Erie, Pa, assignor to Truck-Lite Company, Inc., Jamestown, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 18, 1967, Ser. No. 639,503 int. (31. 324d 15/00 U.S. Cl. 51-393 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The terminal cleaning device disclosed herein is made up of a generally cylindrical handle, a hollow cylindrical cleaning sleeve, that is split longitudinally and has an abrasive material on the inside thereof. The hollow cylindrical member is made of resilient material so that it fits tightly over the terminal to be cleaned and the slot allows the pin to expand it slightly. The abrasive material on the inner periphery of the sleeve is thereby brought into firm engagement with the outside of the pin, thereby cleaning off any corrosion, dirt or foreign substance in order to provide a good electrical contact.

This invention relates to cleaning devices and, more particularly, to a device for cleaning the male electrical terminal pins of an electrical connector. A survey of present-day methods of cleaning electrical electrodes of multiple pin connectors used to transmit power indicates that there is no tool available to perform this function satisfactorily. Various improvised methods, such as, files, screwdrivers, pen knives, are used for this purpose.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved cleaning device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning member that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and simple and efficient to use.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the cleaning device according to the invention, shown in combination with an electrical plug.

FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, the terminal cleaning device is shown in combination with the electrical terminal 20. The electrical terminal 20 is of a type familiar to those skilled in the art, having a plurality of male electrical pins 21 extending from it. These pins may each in turn be received in the resilient sleeve which may be made of thin sheet metal and has a longitudinal slot 16 extending from the washer 12 to the distal end. The inner periphery 17 has abrasive material on it and fixed to it. The sleeve 15 may be made of Phosphor bronze or some other resilient material and it may have a granular abrasive material such as Carborundum or the like bonded to it.

The male attaching member 13 is threadably received in an opening 14 in the frusto-conical end of the generally cylindrical handle 11.

In operation, the device is slid over the pin 21 of the connector and moved in a forward and backward rotating motion. This will clean the electrode of all corrosion and dirt and leave a resistance-free surface.

The locking washer 12 may be fixed to the threaded stud 13 which will enter the hole 14. The inner diameter 3,584,459 Patented Apr. 7, 1970 of the sleeve 15 will be slightly less than the overall diameter of the pin 21 so it will fit tightly thereon during the cleaning operation.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 a tubular cleaning device is shown wherein the sleeve made of heavy cardboard with the inside coated with an abrasive material such as tungsten carbide grit of a size approximately number 80. The outside of the cardboard is covered with vinyl coating. The threaded cylinder 112 is fixed to the outside of the hollow cardboard cylinder 115 and a threaded stud 113 is fixed to the back cylinder 112. The threaded stud 113 is suitable to be received in a handle such as shown in FIG. 1.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broad novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A cleaner for male terminals of a plug having a plurality of generally parallel relatively closely spaced male pins comprising,

an elongated generally cylindrical handle adapted to be held in the hand of a person,

a hollow cylindrical sleeve,

means attaching said sleeve to said handle with the central axis of said sleeve generally coaxial with the central axis of said handle,

and an abrasive material on the inside peripheral surface of said sleeve,

a locking washer means is fixed to said sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom and defining an outwardly directed flange,

said sleeve having an axially extending split along one side thereof.

2. A cleaner for male terminals of a plug having a plurality of generally parallel relatively closely spaced male pins comprising,

an elongated generally cylindrical handle adapted to be held in the hand of a person,

a hollow cylindrical sleeve,

means attaching said sleeve to said handle with the central axis of said sleeve generally coaxial with the central axis of said handle,

and an abrasive material on the inside peripheral surface of said sleeve,

said means attaching said sleeve to said handle comprises,

male threaded member attached to said sleeve,

said male threaded member being received in a threaded hole in said handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 339,683 4/ 1886 Parkin 51-205 1,759,739 5/1930 Ferris 51-392 2,469,586 5/1949 Wallace 51393 X 2,471,23 6 5/1949 Parker 51205 2,484,335 10/ 1949 Dingerson 51391 X 3,168,799 2/1965 Johnson 51392 3,375,618 4/1968 Charniga 51391 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner 

